Many anglers fear using high visibility lines because they think the fish may become line-shy. This is especially true for trout anglers. But hi-vis line makes it much easier to detect bites by watching for the line to jump instead of waiting for a “thump.” To get the best of both worlds, spool up your reel with hi-vis line, then tie on a 2- to 3-foot leader of clear or low visibility line just above your lure.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Dardanelle — Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said bass are still biting fairly well. Upriver, look for the clearest water and fish with jigs and Rat-L-Traps. Horsehead Creek has produced some decent catches on spinnerbaits as well. In Spadra, the bass are still sitting in the deeper water of the flats and drop offs and have been caught on black grape worms and suspending jerk baits. In Mud Creek and Shoal Bay, bass are being taken around channel swings and points with Rat-L-Traps, jigs, jerk baits and Alabama rigs. Delaware by and Dardanelle Bay have produced some bass on crankbaits, jigs, Alabama rigs and shaky head worms fished in brush. In the strip pits, focus on Alabama rigs and jigging spoons. Crappie are biting fairly well. Upriver, they have been caught in clear water on minnows and on brush and tree tops. There also have been a few crappie caught along bridge pilings in Spadra. Crappie are biting well on small jigs, minnows and Rat-L-Traps in Shoal Bay. In the Narrows of Piney Bay, jigs and minnows are producing some good catches. In the strip pits fish a jig and minnow around any treetop along the drop.

(Blue Mountain Lake is now full and lake can be accessed at all concrete ramps. Things should start picking up with the warm weather. Many new fish attractors were placed during the drawdown, so it’s a great time to get out and motor around the lake marking new spots on the GPS.)

Lake Atkins — Lucky Landing (641-7615) said Lake Atkins water level is up about 2 feet. The water is clear and the surface temperature is around 48 degrees. Fishing has been poor, but is picking up some. Catfish are being caught off the banks in some areas of the lake. Crappie and bream are still slow. Bass have picked up this last week with several weighing over 10 lbs.

Harris Brake Lake — Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is high and visibility is at 2 feet. The surface water temperature is 52 degrees. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bass are biting well on crankbaits. Catfishing is slow. Some black buffalo are being taken on trotlines lately.

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are biting well on minnows, Slab Slay’rs and Stroll’rs in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse, bone white and Cajun cricket/pink cotton candy with a Power Bait Crappie Nibble. Catfish are in deep water and are biting well on minnows, worms, stink bait and chicken livers. Bass are biting well on tequila sunrise colored worms, spinnerbaits, flukes and Rooster Tails. Bream are biting well on meal worms and redworms fished in deep water. Some nice redear are being taken near the bottom on redworms.

Lake Overcup — Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is at normal level and clear. The surface temperature is around 50 degrees. Crappie are hitting yo-yos and noodles baited with no. 6 minnows; jigging and pole fishing are still slow. Bass are biting fairly well on soft-plastics. Readear are starting to bite well on redworms fished near the bottom. Catfish are biting well on minnows and cut shad hung from trotlines and noodles.

Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said crappie are fair in deep water on minnows, Bobby Garland Baby Shads, Stroll'rs and Slab Slay'rs in white/salt and pepper, red/chartreuse and bone white with green or yellow Crappie Nibbles. Bream are in deep water and are biting on nightcrawlers, redworms, meal worms, crickets and rock hoppers. Bass are biting well on dark colored worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and flukes.

Brewer Lake — Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) said the water is still a little low and clear. Bass are beginning to hit lizards, frogs and some spinners. Crappie are slow but some are being picked up using white Crappie Stingers and white/chartreuse jigs. Catfish are starting to hit trotlines and noodles. Bream are biting fairly well on redworms fished around the bank.

Arkansas River at Morrilton — Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said stripers are making their run upriver, as are the white bass. Try fishing an Alabama rig with firetiger or white twister tail grubs. Crappie are fair in Flagg Lake Cutoff, Copper Gap and Point Remove Creek. Spotted bass are biting well on black/blue jigs fished in backwater areas. Drum are all over the jetties and below locks 9 and 10 and will bite spoons and crankbaits.

Arkansas and White river levels are available at: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk

For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt

For water quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality

For Family and Community Fishing Program: Trout have been stocked in all Family and Community Fishing Program ponds. They will hit a variety of lures, including Power Bait, frozen shrimp, nightcrawlers and small jigs and spinners.

Click http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/FishingProgramsFCF.aspx for a list of program ponds and up-to-date stocking information.